Drug Enforcement Administration

New Jersey Residents Add To Record Number Of Unused Pills Collected During 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Newark, N.J. - Valerie A. Nickerson, Special Agent in (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, announced that New Jersey residents turned in 14,819 pounds or 7.4 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescriptions during DEA’s 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 28. Nationally, a record number of pills were turned it. At more than 6,000 collection sites across the country close to one million pounds - nearly 475 tons - was collected. This was the most successful Take Back event since it began in 2010.

On Saturday, April 28, 2018, 186 police departments throughout New Jersey participated in the collection of the expired, unused, and unwanted prescriptions at 202 collection sites. Residents were able to come to the various drop-off locations to safely dispose of these potentially dangerous prescription drugs. Over the course of the 15 Take Back Day events New Jersey residents surrendered more than 222,872 pounds or 111 tons of medications.

“National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a day for every American, in every community across the country, to come together and do his or her part to fight the opioid crisis - simply by disposing of unwanted prescription medications from their medicine cabinets,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert W. Patterson. “This event - our 15th - brings us together with local, state and federal partners to fight the abuse of prescription drugs that is fueling the nation’s opioid epidemic.”

“The residents of New Jersey continue to play an active part in helping to reduce the available supply of prescription pain medications from their homes,” said SAC Nickerson. “I applaud the residents and our law enforcement partners who participated in this event. The National Prescription Take Back initiative started in New Jersey in November 2009. As a result of this national program more than 9,964,714 pounds or 4,982 tons have been collected.

Complete results for DEA’s fall Take Back Day are available at www.deatakeback.com. DEA’s next Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 27, 2018.